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Mystic Aquarium
Rating Details »
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
29 reviews for Mystic Aquarium
This aquarium is awesome. I judge an aquarium's awesomeness by the quality and activity of its animals. Not only does Mystic Aquarium have beautiful and lively Sea Lions, Penguins, Sharks, Rays and other creatures, but they have three gorgeous Beluga Whales.
And...wait for it... you can PET THEM.
For around $128 between May-October you can buy tickets to a Beluga Whale Encounter! Since my husband is a marine animal enthusiast, I couldn't pass up such an awesome opportunity. So, I hooked him up with tickets for his $31st birthday, and after speaking and making a reservation with a very nice lady over the phone, decided to do the encounter myself since the viewing area was far away from where the experience occurs.
It was so cool. Included with the price was a ticket to the Mystic Aquarium plus 1 photo of you with the whale. The whole experience lasted about 1 hour. 20 Minutes of prep, 30 minutes with the whale and then 10 minutes watching a video. We got to put our hands in the whales mouth and pat it's tongue (favorite form of play) touch its tail, Russ got spit on by the Whale, and I got to feel the suction of its powerful mouth. IT WAS AWESOME
I highly recommend this experience for anyone looking for something to do that's special for a loved one. It was totally and completely epic.
Having gone Memorial Day Weekend, the aquarium was totally and completely packed with people, but we did get to check out a lot of the exhibits including one where you're allowed to pet & feed birds, parakeets & parrots in an enclosed space for $3
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I went to this aquarium when I was a child and I remember it being spectacular. Ah, those were the days. I was a little disappointed coming back as an adult. The price is a little expensive at about $30 per adult, its a little bit more if you want to see the 3-D movie and the Birds of the Outback exhibit. The Belugas are great as are the seals, sea lions and penguins. But I was amazed at all the people including myself staring into a pond looking for the tadpoles and large bull frogs. The indoor exhibits were actually very well done.
Overall, it isn't the largest aquarium so getting around it isn't too tiring and if you have children they will like it. The food there is typical touristy cafeteria fare.
I have been to better aquariums but if you are in Mystic, check it out.
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It's $26 to get in here. I feel funny starting the review with that statement but it was so hard for me to get past that. This place is just too damn expensive. Not to mention it's straight up ROMPER ROOM, with kids running, screaming, crying, etc.
Now if you can get past all of that (which we did), you will enjoy your time here, despite the price tag and all of the kids. The sea lion feeding/show was pretty cool, as were the sharks, clownfish, stingrays and the ginormous beluga whale. I'd never seen a beluga whale up close, so that was very, very cool.
I'm still wondering if I can honestly recommend this place.. I'm sort of on the fence. I think if you have kids, it's definitely the place to go but for couples or others, I'm just not sure. I don't regret going because I learned a lot and enjoyed my time, but I expected to see more animals/more exhibits for that admission price.
After getting rained out of our first attempt the week before, we finally got a chance to check out the aquarium the other day. It was fun; I have a two year old, and everything seemed to be walkable in a pace that was suitable for a young child. Overall, the aquarium was a bit more sparse than I was expecting, with a lot of the outdoor exhibits just seeming like they were missing something. It was a nice walk w/ a toddler, though. The crowds made for some interesting people watching, and the Belugas were just amazing to behold.
The indoor exhibits were more of what I was expecting. Very nicely displayed, and designed for optimal viewing (something the outdoor half was lacking). It's also surprisingly expansive indoors, which gives you a bit more bang for your buck considering the somewhat pricey admission.
Another standout was the 'Birds of the Outback' exhibit just past the Marsh Walk. This was great. You get to stand in an enclosure with hundreds of exotic birds - mostly parakeets - and get a chance to feed them while they fly around, perch on your fingers and evacuate into your hair (if your lucky). We weren't one of the lucky ones, fortunately, and this experience was an absolute hit with our son. I don't think he's ever stood so still as a parakeet landed on his finger and ate from the feeding stick we bought on the way in. He was just fascinated.
One suggestion before visiting the Mystic Aquarium, would be to dine elsewhere beforehand. The food here is pretty awful, which I'm saying in the context of touristy cafeteria food. Don't even try for a proper meal in the old Mistick Village (treats/carny food being the exception), it's all pretty substandard within walking distance of the aquarium.
All in all, it is much less than we were hoping for, and we probably wouldn't come back unless we were joined by another couple w/ kids. I think it's worth going at least once, you might feel more in league with the 4 & 5 star reviewers here..
For Dan A.'s birthday, we 'encountered' the penguin and monitored his heart beat. I have the photographic evidence somewhere. Will upload. Yes, we were the only people over age 10 in the room. Totally worth it.
I remember my parents taking me here when I was a youngster. I thought it would be a nice day trip for the memorial day weekend. DW never left Orange County (NY) as a child so I knew she would enjoy this. Our Daughter loves any creature held captive (zoo, aquarium etc.)
The beluga whales are the "thing to see" here. We caught the end of the feeding just as we were entering the aquarium. It's definitely better to go on a nice day as much of the aquarium is outside. They have staff members stationed at most of the outdoor attractions who are quick to fill you in with information on the animals that you are looking at. The Stellar sea lion was pretty amazing, this thing is massive and apparently a rare sight in captivity.
The entire family loved the aquarium. Our 18 month old daughter especially loved the sea lions and penguins. You can get around this place in 2-3 hours. Definitely worth the drive.
I've came here only once in a past life with my former love on our return from Cape Cod, MA which was so worth the trip. This is one of the better aquariums I've experienced as there are so many activities and lots of aquatic shows to see. Great for children of all ages as a day trip.
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If you're a senior and you get a membership you can get up to 6 grandkids in free (as long as they are under 17)
We decided to head down here for the day. I love the combination of indoor and outdoor exhibits. Even inside there are lots of wide open spaces. So even on a crowded weekend you never feel claustrophobic.
They lose a star because they couldn't feed the sharks on time *pout*
I haven't been here in years...not since jr high probably. As others have said, it is very pricey for a *very* small aquarium. $24 for adults, kids 2 and under free thank god. Shoot, Monterey Bay is $25 and waaaay bigger, not to mention cooler. We saw everything this aquarium had to offer with a 2 yr old in tow, in about 2 hours. That includes the Sea Lion show, which was neat but not interesting enough for my kid to sit through.
I remembered alot more penguins. There were only a couple dozen and they weren't doing too much.
The Beluga whales were kinda cool.
They definitely need more sharks. I saw a few leapard sharks, small ones at that...and that's about it.
I also vote for more Jellys. There were two small displays, one with an interesting upside down jelly.
That being said, it was a great morning for my kiddo who was a huge fan of the Ray Tank. And by huge I mean *everything* is Ooh Rays? oooh Rays? Another Rays? Rays! --until I want to slam my head against concrete.
I'm giving this review 4 stars for one particularly awesome exhibit that has nothing to do with water, the ocean or anything else aquarium related. It's the Birds of the Outback exhibit where dozens and dozens of cockatiels, parakeets and some kind of small parrot fly freely. For an extra 2 bucks, you get a popsicle stick with some millet glued to it to feed the birds. It was fun and definitely my favorite!
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Oh for the days when Mystic Aquairum was a dark, haunted labyrinth of fish ecosystems and exhibits that seemed custom-made to scare the ever-loving beejeezus out of a child. I have many great childhood memories of being tormented by the sight of a shark darting towards the glass at me in some dimly-lit tank, all teeth and throat out of the darkness.
But at some point when I was in middle school they renovated the place, giving it a more open, brighter feel and a huge seafood restaurant in the middle of the joint.
And they replaced the dolphin show with a sea lion show. Damn near inexcusable. Go dolphins!
All in all I can't say it's really worth the insane price to visit this place more than once. For out-of-towners and other first timers it's probably not a bad gig, but I would find myself hard-pressed to fork over almost $30 to go to an aquarium that reminds me of how much I used to love it, and how much I'd rather be at the Baltimore Aquarium these days.
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I used to spend many rainy days here when I was a kid and we couldn't take our boat out on the water. So now years later I have gone back and I am still a big fan.
I have always been a big fan of aquariums and I try to visit them in different cities. So returning to the Mystic Aquarium as an adult was a great experience.
There are many indoor exhibits of various species of fish as well as an area to touch the sting rays. There are outdoor exhibits of penquins, sea lions, beluga whales, and a bird exhibit. The bird exhibit is an additional $2. The group I went with opted not to see the birds since there was a girl deathly afraid of them.
The best part of the Aquarium is the beluga whales, they are so peaceful and graceful. And now the Aquarium let you experience the strength and beauty of these animals up close and personal. You can step into some waders and climb in the pool with one. You can attempt the hand signals, pet the whale's tongue, and give them a snack. If you have always appreciated the whales from a far I highly recommend the hands on experience.
The only disappointment with my return to the Aquarium is that they no longer have the dolphins. There used to be a dolphin show and I remember being fascinated by the dolphins doing their tricks and jumping up to hit the yellow ball that dropped down from the ceiling. Now they have a sea lion show instead which is very informative and entertaining. Although it is much more geared toward children it is free with admissions and definitely worth checking out.
So if you find yourself in the area I would say check it out.
Enjoy!
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The Mystic Aquarium is nice. They have penguins, seals, beluga whales and all kinds of fish and much more. Also they have a seal lion show, which is included in your ticket price, it's not extra that you can attend. It's worth it. There are feeding times, in which you can see the animals being feed and they will talk about that animal and have them do little tricks.
It costs $24 for an adult. I feel it's worth it more than the The New England Aquarium, which is 19.95 to see fish, turtles and penguins. and 24.95 to see the IMAX theater as well.
I loved this place as a kid, and it has stood the test of time. A great Aquarium. In haiku:
Beluga whales, great
Sea Lions and Penguins, too
They could use more sharks
The sea lion show was hokey but entertaining. Really, Beluga whales are fantastic, like huge dolphins (there are no dolphins here). Pretty cool indoor exhiting of fish, albeit small. Touch the ray pool is a crowd favorite. Definitely, the Acrtic NW aquatic mammal section is the preeminent attraction, the rest is kind of anti-climactic.
Go early, beat the crowds.
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The Mystic Aquarium is just ok. Though I think it is a great place for the little one's because it is small and not too overwhelming.
My main issue is the price of admission...close to $30 for an adult. They do not take AAA discounts which is a big bummer. I find that the cost is a little steep seeing how small the aquarium. So many museums and zoo's in the area offer better bang for your buck.
I do have to say that we had fun running into a good friend and spending the afternoon here. Even though it was a Saturday, a busy one at that, we still had no problem viewing all of the exhibits.
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For my 300th review I shall describe what was my most emotional experience in an aquarium.
I was 17 years old and decided that it would be a good idea to drop two hits of acid at 6am before the class trip to the Mystic Aquarium. I timed it just so I'd be PEAKING by the time they let us loose to sing to the whalies and touch the lobsters and whatnot. oh but NO. As soon as we got to the doors the teachers said - "before we let you have free time in the aquarium we're going to do a squid dissection!" which would've been fine if I wasn't TRIPPING BALLS.
They bring us into this room and the carpet is waving like a rough sea to me. The walls have different sea creatures painted on them and I start to feel a sadness for the frightening women who is describing how we will be removing the eye lens of the squid.
Ohhhh then they wheel out the squid and naturally I am presented with the fattest, most bloated looking, off colored, pregnant looking squid. Whyyyy god why! I instantly start crying while pretending I'm not crying but it's no use there are mad tears flowing out of my eyes. Can't control it. The horror!!! THE HORROR!!
FINALLY they let us out into the aquarium but at this point I'm coming down off my peak and I get into the psychological, introspective B.S. and I start thinking about how unhappy all of these creatures must to be to get stripped from their natural environment.
I spent all my free time standing in front of this large window that peered into a tall cylinder of water with one lone beluga, swimming nihilistically in circles. Around and around. So I start really tapping into the emotions of this sad lonely whale and I just cried softly. A crowd of girls in my class (not on LSD) came around and tapped into whatever it was that I was sensing and we all got a bit depressed.
Moral of the story is, do NOT do psychedelics at the aquarium if there is any chance of a spontaneous dissection.
Mystic aquarium gets docked one star for the condition of the sea lion's lungs. They were honking up huge, green chunks of phlegm and slapping each other. This actually made me laugh at the time, but looking back... poor sea lions!
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There is something very calming about going to an aquarium. Others might argue that aquariums are more exciting than anything else, but there's a certain quiet peace that can only be found by taking a glimpse of the underwater, teaming with life.
At Mystic Aquarium, you get to watch the beluga whales and their graceful movements. By seeing the colorful fluorescent corals supporting the many sea creatures, you can be mystified by the unusual sights and the wonder of it all.
Of course, if you prefer excitement over beauty, you can walk over to the touch tanks, feed the frenzied birds, view the sea lion show, and go on a 3D ride that 'll make you almost fall off your seat.
Be warned that with all the visitors, your trip will surely be interrupted by a child who will wine a little too loudly; But overall, your experience will be worthwhile if you take time to take notice all of the details. The place is a little small, but it's not too overwhelming, and you'll have more time to enjoy a little walk around the town of Mystic.
***As someone already mentioned, the entrance fee here is a little steep, but I was able to get a museum pass (from Branford Library) which saved our family $22 in total. With a little research, discounts are available.
**** We just joined their membership to enter free all year 'round. Depending on the size of your family, it may be worthwhile to become a member. For us, two visits equaled the membership cost. Just remember to save ALL your ticket stubs to apply towards your membership cost .
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My boyfriend's uncle died in August and the service was held near Hartford. In an effort to bribe me into going with him*, the boy decided we could perhaps make an entire weekend of it and go somewhere fun. We did a little research and decided to check out Mystic.
Unfortunately, we were horribly disappointed.
For one thing, it's quite expensive. And right after you've shelled out $22, you're immediately shoved into an area with a photographer who attempts to take your photo and then sell it to you later for some inevitably exorbitant rate. Luckily, my boy and I were able to stealthily avoid this.
Usually I love aquariums, mainly because I love seeing penguins. But I wouldn't take a trip to Mystic solely for this aquarium unless you have children. As an adult, some aquariums are still fully enjoyable for me - like the Boston Aquarium. However, Mystic didn't really do it for me. The penguin exhibit was much smaller than I'd hoped and it was sort of strangely designed in a way that didn't at all optimize observation areas.
I also felt a little overwhelmed by the screaming children. It was a week day in August and the place was absolutely mobbed.
Parents, please understand that allowing your child to bang on the glass despite the signs that say "don't bang on the glass" is not cute or funny or acceptable. I actually witnessed several parents encouraging that type of thing! What?!
However, the beluga exhibit was really cool, as were the sea lions.
And if you have kids or you are a kid, you'd probably have a much better time than I did.
*For the record, I didn't really have to be bribed; he was just trying to sweeten the deal for me.
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The first thing anyone's going to notice about this place is how expensive it is. Because you pay first. And then you dodge the photographer. But that aside, I kind of liked my visit and it certainly got restless, visiting children out of my toyless apartment. So let's just say it was well worth it. I think it's about the size of the Long Beach Aquarium, but Mystic has more larger animal exhibits, maybe. Anyway . . .
The kids I was with spent at least an hour (seriously) hanging their hands into the manta ray pool. Even the 2 yr old managed to run her hand over the back of a manta ray a few times. And when they weren't in reach, I guess the kids enjoyed just staring at their movement around and around the pool. I know I did.
Apparently, manta rays are very social; they would sometimes sort of flap and splash and play around right under your hand because they WANTED to be touched. The staff explained that they swim in herds of thousands.
I've been to the Baltimore aquarium and the ray touch pool there is quite different. There they are packed in (or were) and the skin of the rays is rough to the touch. Here they have a lot of room to move and they are soft and, as other people have said, um, slimey. But in a neat way. All in all, this aquarium is much smaller than the Baltimore aquarium, which is pretty spectacular.
I visited this aquarium on a rainy fall day and I noticed that the "covered" walkways and other areas leak a bit when it rains. And we spent more time with the indoor exhibits than the outside ones.
I did see the Beluga whales being fed and I heard the noises they make. That was another high point, with informative, friendly staff. The touch tank was a winner too.
Although it's small, I feel like if you want to pay attention to what they have, there is plenty there. The kids I was with were periodically entranced - by the Belugas, the rays, the sharks, the bats, etc - and its good to remember that kids often have longer attention spans than adults for certain things. You might be checking your watch, but they can become fascinated by almost anything if given the chance.
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I will give this place 3 stars, because it is a good time killer when you visit Mystic. Your youngsters will have a better time at this place. Buuuuuuuuuuut I did enjoy petting the baby sting rays and the dolphin show. Again decent place to visit when you need some thing to do while hanging out in the Mystic area.
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My husband and I stopped at this aquarium en route to NH recently and found it to be a great stop in the drive through state.
The interactive experiences sound awesome, I wish I would have know about them previous to my visit. However, the aquarium by itself is impressive showing a unique array of animals. Highlights for us included the beluga whales who come right up to the glass and check you out. Also, there were a large quantity of different species of seals and sea lions, including one that is larger than their whales! That guy was huge. All in all, a good time was had.
Growing up with the NY Aquarium as the only benchmark to compare other aquariums to, I was pleasantly surprised at how relaxed, quiet and easy going this aquarium was. People are complaining about prices, but again, I thought they were fine. Do you have any idea how much it costs to maintain and run an aquarium? Come on, people. I asked the lady at the ticket counter if they took the AAA discount, but they did not. They do, however, offer reduced admission if you have a Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun player's card ($2 off per ticket). A ticket for the virtual reality ride is only ONE DOLLAR. At the NY Aquarium, it's like $16 or $12, something ridiculous.
I liked that there were actual hands-on activities. They allow you to pet sting rays & pick up star fish and other sea creatures at the designated areas. Unfortunately, the penguin display was under renovation so we did not get to see those. They have a pretty impressive Beluga whale exhibit and after befriending some employees, we learned that in the summer, they offer an opportunity to swim with the Beluga whales for only $150 per person! If you try to do something like that at Seaworld, it will cost you nearly triple. They told us that at Seaworld, you can swim with dolphins for an ungodly amount of money and the thing about dolphins is that they aren't always friendly. You might be able to pet it on the nose for a quick second, but it could very well swim away from you and ignore you for the rest of the session. Apparently, Beluga whales are very affectionate and love to be pet, they won't leave your side the entire time. I'll let you know more about it when I actually do it next summer. There's another hands-on activity you can do involving penguins, too.
It's definitely 289037231 times better than the NY Aquarium. It is cleaner, less crowded and less annoying in general. You don't have to pay for parking, either. You could eat off the bathroom floor, that's how immaculate it is. The food stand was cheap, too. When I have babies someday and it's time to take them to an Aquarium, I'll definitely take them to this one.
While this aquarium isn't particularly large in scale, it does offer a plethora of things to see and do. I went there with a friend to take part in a Penguin Contact Program, where you get to learn more about African penguins and actually interact and touch one. What an amazing experience!! The penguins were charismatic and impressive to actually be close to. They could even jump in your lap and if you're lucky, they'll poop on you! LOL. Anyway, outside of that program, they also have a Beluga contact program where you get to work with trainers firsthand and get in the water with the beluga whales. These contact programs cost additional money, but it is well worth it for an educational and incomparable experience. Reservations for these contact programs is a MUST.
If you're just going to see the aquarium itself, there's a stingray pool where you can reach in and touch them. They feel kinda slimy! And in the indoor section, there's a plethora of sea life, from jellyfish to red spotted frogs and everything in between, including sharks!
This is a nice day trip for the family or for anyone that loves the water and its animals. The people that work there are very pleasant and funny. There's plenty of parking, so no worries there. There is also one place to eat on premises, which is just okay. All in all, its a worthwhile visit.
I went there as a little kid and was happy to return and see what it is really like because I barely remember it aside from a few things here and there.
A bit pricey for a small aquarium but still a fun time. It worked out well as our first aquarium outing as a couple and hopefully we will move up and out to the bigger ones with more to see & do. Having it be smaller is somewhat less stressful so it made for a nice relaxing casual activity during our weekend trip. The cost to get in is a bit steep but remember, your ticket is good the next day too if you want to go back, you just have to visit them on the way out to get it validated.
It is easy to get to and located nicely close to shops and places to eat. It is impossible to get their belugas to pose for a picture but the sea lions make up for it. I wish they had more penguins but they have enough penguins for me to get my penguin fix for the time being. The sea lion show was fun, I am glad we sat a bit higher up than I originally hoped because there is a minor splash factor.
My bf and I planned a daytrip to the Mystic Aquarium and the only regrets I have are that we didn't head there earlier in the day. This aquarium is much better than the New England Aquarium because it has many more exhibits, some of which are interactive. My favorite things were the Beluga whales because I have never seen them before, the manta ray pool because you get to pet them, and the sea lion show which was short but very entertaining. I also enjoyed the Birds of the Outback exhibit where they give you a stick with bird food on it and the birds eat right out of your hand. I actually had a bird that refused to get off the stick that I was holding and almost had to take him home! However, one negative to that exhibit is the possibility of getting pooped in which happened to my bf. Unfortunately we didn't have time to do the XD theater ride because there were so many other great exhibits. We saw people doing the beluga whale encounter and the penguin encounter in which you get to interact with those animals but you have to pay an additional fee for and reserve ahead of time. It looked like a lot of fun so I would definitely consider that for a special occasion or gift. I agree with the other reviews that the food at the aquarium is on the pricier side and not very good but that is common to most theme parks and museums. You aren't there for the food anyway so if it is a big concern then just be sure to eat before or after the trip to the aquarium. This made for a great day trip from Boston!
A small aquarium with mostly outside exhibits. Keep this in mind if you are traveling in the heat of summer (or the cold of winter). The $22 entrance fee is steep for the size and depth of the exhibits.
We were really put off by the fact that as soon as you enter, you are corralled into having your picture taken, so they can later sell it to you. We skipped around, but not without having an encounter with the 'tourist wrangler'. Not an auspicious beginning to our visit.
Every presentation seemed just another opportunity to hit the visitor up for a donation.
I give it three stars because the Beluga whales are a sight to see. But I wouldn't go here again without a steep discount.
Update: Others have mentioned that the tickets are valid for two days, and that this softens the $22 hit. I can see how parents of young children might like to divide their visit over two days. For an adult visit, however, there is not enough to occupy one for a second visit so soon.
Perhaps the aquarium should consider a two tiered pricing structure: less for those want to visit for one day and more for those who would take advantage of a second day.
I'm giving the aquarium a third star because my infant son really enjoys it, but I'm not sure I would be so kind if I were voting my own opinion. We are local and the annual pass is a decent idea for a family if you live near and think you'll visit more than a few times in a year. If you will be making a one-time stop, the entrance fee really is exorbitant.
Having visited about a half dozen aquariums in my life, this one is certainly the most expensive (as far as I can remember) and probably the least fascinating. I am usually awed when I go to an aquarium and don't mind spending hours. At the one in Mystic, I started looking at my watch after about 40 minutes.
the aquarium has gotten so much better, and also so much worse over the years. when i was a kid, there were some wicked cool things there. and now they're gone. sure, they have robert ballards stuff. and some penguins. but gone are many, many of the animals. such a shame.
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I LOVED this aquarium. It pains this native New Yorker to say it, but I think it may be a cut above Coney Island, although Coney Island is larger and has more stuff. Mystic Aquarium is very well put together and has interactive stuff. The Beluga Whales and the interactve stuff make it. I have seen Beluga Whales at Coney Island, but they are more tightly confined; these three are swinning around a huge manmade pool/lake having the time of their life. You can touch and pet a ray in the "Ray Touching Pool." And they have this tent full of birds (parakeets and cockatiels - why are there birds in an aquarium?) that come down and eat from your hand. I could have spent all day in there. It's really just lovely. The price IS high, but maintenance must cost a ton, and the tickets are for two consecutive days.
i had a great time here, the only other aquarium i've been to is the new england aquarium in boston and i liked how alot of the mystic aquarium is outdoors. the exhibits were great especially the sea lions and beluga whales. there is a program which you can pay extra to go out and feed the animals with a instructor which i wish i did. there also was a bird area which i found kind of weird but i went in, its pretty much a huge bird cage with tons of birds in it and they give you a popsicle stick with birdseed on it and the birds will eat it and hop on your finger it was pretty cool. and yes it is expensive but i found it to be worth it. I got a deal card for $50 which give you admission to the aquarium and mystic seaport and a free t-shirt, drinks and coupons for mystic shops, restaurants and hotels. so if you're going to mystic seaport and the shops, get it.. its worth it.
